Putting your best face on - Indianapolis Woman April 2005 Issue

Stage your home to help attract potential buyers
by Amy Mallett

If the time has come to swap your current residence for a new one, there are plenty of ways to help your old home put on a great new face for prospective buyers. Staging is the process of preparing a home to look it's best through decorating and improvements.

"There is a big difference between the way you live in a home and the way you present it for sale," says Linda Barnett, an accredited staging professional and owner of Home Matters, a local home staging consultation business.

A former real estate agent, Barnett founded Home Matters last year to help owners of existing homes effectively compete against new construction and other houses in the same price range.

Appearances speak volumes--Right from the second a potential buyer pulls up in front of the home.

"Curb appeal starts from the outside and goes all the way into the house and through the back door," Barnett explains. "Sellers should always have a welcome mat on the porch. This is where buyers will stand while the realtor takes out the keys and unlocks the front door, which gives them ample time to look around and start forming a first impression."

Sellers don't have to spend a fortune on flowers and landscaping, but they should at the very least clean up the yard, keep the lawn mowed and trim trees and bushes. If home showings and open houses are taking place during inclement weather, make sure walkways are clear and steps are safe to navigate.

Barnett notes that nothing sells quicker than a clean home. Spend time cleaning the carpets, touching up paint and making every room as spic and span as it can possibly be. Inside and out, make reasonable repairs and scale down furniture and personal effects as much as possible.

"Addressing clutter is one of the biggest aspects of my job," Barnett says. "I always say: You want to reduce the clutter, not the price. The buyers are interested in the space, not your lifestyle. They want to be able to envision their own belongings in the home."

If homeowners are interested, Home Matters provides or can arrange out-sourcing for packing, cleaning, storage and minor home improvements.

"There is a big difference between the way you live in a home and the way you present it for sale."

Another helpful tip: Don't forget to dust and clean often-neglected areas, such as utility closets and mechanicals. Potential buyers will pay close attention to these features, even if you don't on a daily basis.

During showings, open all curtains or blinds and turn on all lights to make rooms look their biggest and brightest.

Many modern home sellers are appealing to buyers' senses of smell to create connotations of "Home." Invest in some subtly scented candles or air fresheners --Just don't choose anything overpowering. Even better, bake bread or cookies just before an open house. Even simmering a little vanilla or a few cinnamon sticks in some water on the stove for a few minutes can create a welcoming, cozy effect.

Home Matters - (317) 209-9801 - Contact Us